Job 38:33-41: a reflection

33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth? 34“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you? 35Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’? 36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind? 37Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky, 38when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together? 39“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket? 41Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?

As God questions Job out of the whirlwind, he points to his care for the wild creatures, whom no human provides for. Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the young lions? he asks. Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food? God himself provides for the wild lions and the young ravens; when the raven's young cry out, it is God who feeds them. His provision reaches even to the wild creatures that no one else cares for, feeding even the ravens.

Notice God's provision for even the wild creatures. The lions, the ravens, the wild things that no human tends or feeds, are provided for by God; he satisfies the young lions, feeds the raven's crying young. His care reaches even to these, the wild and untended creatures; not one of them is beyond his provision. If God feeds the ravens, whose young cry to him and are answered, then his provision reaches even to the least and wildest of his creatures. God provides for even the ravens.

That is worth taking to heart, for if God provides for even the ravens, he will surely provide for us. We can worry about our provision, our needs, wondering whether we will be cared for; but God feeds even the wild ravens, whose young cry to him. If God's provision reaches even to the ravens, will he not much more provide for us, his own children? Do not worry as though your provision were uncertain, as though God might not care for you; the God who feeds the ravens, whose young cry to him, will surely provide for you. Trust the God who provides for even the wild creatures, feeding the ravens when their young cry out, to provide also for you; for if his provision reaches even to the ravens, it reaches surely to you, and you may trust him for your needs, as the young ravens cry to God and are fed, and are not beyond his care.

Lord, as you question Job out of the whirlwind, you point to your care for the wild creatures, whom no human provides for. Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the young lions? you ask. Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food? You yourself provide for the wild lions and the young ravens; when the raven's young cry out, it is you who feed them. Your provision reaches even to the wild creatures that no one else cares for. Show me your provision for even the wild creatures. The lions, the ravens, the wild things that no human tends, are provided for by you; you satisfy the young lions, feed the raven's crying young. Your care reaches even to these; not one of them is beyond your provision. If you feed the ravens, whose young cry to you and are answered, then your provision reaches even to the least of your creatures. Take that to my heart, for if you provide for even the ravens, you will surely provide for me. I can worry about my provision, my needs, wondering whether I will be cared for; but you feed even the wild ravens. If your provision reaches even to the ravens, will you not much more provide for me, your own child? Keep me from worrying as though my provision were uncertain, as though you might not care for me; the God who feeds the ravens will surely provide for me. Help me trust the God who provides for even the wild creatures, Lord, to provide also for me.